Green infrastructure technologies are designed to protect or restore the natural hydrology of a site, capturing stormwater volume through the use of soils, vegetation, and engineered systems that mimic nature. These new approaches can replace many traditional stormwater control projects through the use of innovations such as green roofs, rain gardens, treatment wetlands and permeable pavement. In addition to reduced stormwater runoff, these technologies often have several co-benefits, such increasing ecosystem diversity in cities.
Many areas of the U.S. are exploring green infrastructure technologies for a variety of reasons, from reducing combined sewer overflows to harvesting runoff for potable water use. This research project explores the factors that influence U.S. cities to adopt green infrastructure, in particular those that are dealing with combined sewer overflows.
